Absolutely. The techniques used in an ashiatsu therapeutic massage session often exceed the level of detail and effectiveness possible in a typical deep tissue massage. Many of the therapeutic angles accessible through the use of overhead bars and foot-based pressure are difficult—or nearly impossible—to achieve with hands or forearms alone.

For example, the top of the shoulders—where the vast majority of people hold tension—can be challenging to treat thoroughly from a standing position beside the table. With our ashiatsu therapeutic approach, therapists use a combination of feet, hands, and controlled leverage to precisely target and release shoulder tension and pain.

Depending on the level of detail required, a therapist may even use hands and feet simultaneously, creating a push–pull motion that provides a gentle, passive stretch. This helps smaller, deeper muscle groups release with significantly greater ease.

Another key advantage is the use of heel pressure for trigger point and active release therapy. With the aid of gravity and the support of the overhead bars, therapists can apply focused, sustained pressure to specific areas—and maintain that pressure effortlessly for as long as needed to achieve a full release.

This combination of precision, leverage, sustained pressure, and biomechanical efficiency allows ashiatsu therapeutic massage to deliver therapeutic outcomes that are difficult to replicate with traditional massage techniques.